Legalizing Home Education

MHEA feedback to Education Act Consultation

We are writing as the Malta Home Educators Association, in response to the recently published Education Act. Our aim is to represent the collective voice not only of the current community of home educating families but with a view to equitable futures for families planning to home educate over the next 10-50 years. It is highly likely that in the near future the number of families hoping to access this educational choice (as demonstrated elsewhere internationally) may be 1% of the population of the children in Malta. That figure indicates a future potential of 10,000 students based on a projection of the current statistics. This is a crucial time for partnership between legislators and community. Navigating these waters well at the beginning is key, it is a historic moment for education in Malta. Unfortunately, we are called to bring to the attention of those who have a responsibility to the welfare of both the next generation and the face of our nation that there has not been cooperation between policy makers and those who are most affected by this legislation. This is unacceptable. This association will serve as a means by which to communicate with greater accountability and clarity between the position of the Home Educators Malta Association and governing bodies in relation to their support of the home educating community into the future. With each student reportedly still costing the Maltese government an estimated 3000 euro per year it would seem home education at a parent's expense is already an economic gain. Let alone the economic asset as the generation of creative, entrepreneurial 21st Century thinkers home educated graduates represent. Not forgetting the foreign families hindered from taking long term work contracts due to the lack of educational freedoms offered here in Malta.The government is charged with the responsibility to legislate in order to serve the nation's people well. In this case regarding the definition of home education as it stands, little has been done to serve the community and much to reinforce a negative and misinformed perception of this 21st Century educational option. As is plainly stated in the Declaration of Human Rights Article 26.3: “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.”The following are some areas we propose definitions need to change and we look forward to meetings with the Commissioner and/or Minister for Education, in line with the 1980 Statute Revision Act, to further discuss matters as necessary and work cooperatively together.

Pertaining to the definition: “Warrant”, must relate to those seeking remuneration, as clearly stated in the act itself. Home Educators do not seek financial gain but educate their children at their own expense. They seek only the good of their children therefore as such and as per the Education Act itself, home educators do not need a warrant. This is discriminatory, if legislators insist that children given an education at home need someone with a warrant to do so. Even more so when one looks at the issue of Temporary warrant holding teachers or the many warrants issued to untrained teachers. The Home Educators Malta Association recommends to replace the current term “warrant” with “licence”. It is clear from media hype and one-way bad press that many are frightened of potential neglect, abuse and suspicious of parental motive. These things should not dominate the discussion as have been well documented internationally. It is necessary to address these concerns without diminishing the ability of families to choose the right education for their families. Interestingly, studies have also been done on the lack of connection between a parent’s levels of education (or teacher certification) and student performance and outcomes. Warranting home educators will not mean students access greater success.

The word “Schooling” in the misnomer Home Schooling has very little to do with the actual process of ‘progressive education of a minor’ at home and is therefore better left out of the definition. Rather, redirecting the term Home Schooling back to its intended meaning under home education (also known as home schooling) would better reflect the various philosophies and resulting methodologies that make up the diverse community of those who educate away from school. Also the references to IV Part of the Act which refer to the Duty of State, in the light of the Article 26 is irrelevant. As referred to above it is a parents right to choose education in the best interest of the child. This should read: It is the duty of every parent of compulsory school age children to cause them to receive efficient education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs they may have either by attendance to school or otherwise. While the vast majority have chosen to delegate that authority over to the state. The state should not take over the responsibility of the parents.While a commission is being set up to cater for education in all its entirety, we see there is no representative for home education. This should be remedied accordingly or a body especially by means of which the home educating community may establish and maintain accountability as is mutually beneficial established.